Full Breakdown
FKA Twigs Cast as Josephine Baker in New Biopic Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré
5/12/2026, 9:10:53 PM
Core Announcement
British singer-actress Tahliah Debrett Barnett, known professionally as FKA Twigs, will portray entertainer Josephine Baker in a feature-length biopic helmed by French writer-director Maïmouna Doucouré. Production is slated to begin in the fall, with Studiocanal and Bien ou Bien Productions providing financing. The project has the full endorsement of Baker’s estate and two of her surviving sons, Jean-Claude Bouillon Baker and Brian Bouillon Baker. A title and release date have not yet been disclosed.
Historical Context of Josephine Baker
Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906, Baker moved to Paris in 1925 and became a defining figure of the Jazz Age, famed for her “Danse Sauvage” performance in a banana skirt. In 1927 she became the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, *Siren of the Tropics*. During World War II she joined the French Resistance, earning the Croix de Guerre and the Resistance Medal, and later aligned with the U.S. civil-rights movement, speaking at the 1963 March on Washington. In 2021 she was interred in France’s Panthéon, the first Black woman to receive that honor. Baker adopted 12 children, known as the “Rainbow Tribe”; two of them, Jean-Claude and Brian, are actively involved in the film.
Key Participants and Production Details
- FKA Twigs – Grammy-winning musician with recent acting credits in *Honey Boy*, *The Crow* (2024 remake), and *Mother Mary*.
- Maïmouna Doucouré – Director of the Sundance-award-winning *Cuties* (2020) and the French drama *Hawa* (2022).
- Estate & Family – Baker’s estate and her two surviving sons have granted official blessing and will consult on the script.
- Financing & Sales – Studiocanal and Bien ou Bien Productions are producing; international sales are planned for the Cannes Film Festival market.
Official Statements & Responses
Twigs said the role offers an opportunity to “bring her fight, love, losses, talent and heroism to the big screen,” emphasizing Baker’s continued relevance. Doucouré described Baker as “modern, fearless and complex,” adding that the film will explore “her contradictions, her wounds and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity.” Both statements frame the biopic as a character-driven study rather than a conventional celebration.
Criticism & Opposition
Doucouré’s earlier film *Cuties* generated controversy over its portrayal of a young dance troupe, with critics alleging sexualization of minors. While unrelated to the Baker project, the debate has resurfaced in discussions of her suitability to helm a biopic of a historic Black icon.
Impact and Cultural Significance
The biopic marks the first major Hollywood portrayal of Baker with direct family involvement, potentially expanding public awareness of her artistic achievements and activism. By casting a Black British artist in the lead, the film also contributes to ongoing efforts to increase representation of Black women in mainstream cinema.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I cannot wait to embody Josephine Baker, bringing her fight, her love, her losses, her talent and her heroism to the big screen,” — FKA Twigs, Singer-Actress
- “She lives on in our hearts as a visionary, ground-breaking woman whose story is as powerful as it is relevant today.” — FKA Twigs
- “Working on this film, I realise how modern, fearless and complex [Baker] was,” — Maïmouna Doucouré, Director
- “Beyond the legend, I want to explore her contradictions, her wounds and her immense courage, as well as her relentless fight for dignity.” — Maïmouna Doucouré
- “such an inspiration” — FKA Twigs
What’s Next
The production will commence filming this fall, with sales negotiations slated for the Cannes market. Updates on the film’s title, distribution partners, and release schedule are expected later in the year.
